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Mexico swears in president; old ruling party returns to power amid violent protests

Enrique Pena Nieto took the oath of office as Mexico’s new president on Saturday, bringing the old ruling party back to power after a 12-year hiatus amid protests inside and outside the congressional chamber where he swore to protect the constitution.

Rioters clash with police officers outside of the Congress building before the inauguration ceremony of incoming Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. (PEDRO PARDO / AFP)

By Mark Stevenson And Olga R. RodriguezThe Associated Press

Sat., Dec. 1, 2012

MEXICO CITY—Enrique Pena Nieto took the oath of office as Mexico’s new president on Saturday, bringing the old ruling party back to power after a 12-year hiatus amid protests inside and outside the congressional chamber where he swore to protect the constitution.

“I promise to uphold the constitution and its laws and to carry out loyally and patriotically the job of president of the republic,” he said with arm outstretched. “If I don’t, the people will demand it.”

The chamber erupted in cheers, with congress members chanting “Bravo president!” and “Mexico!” despite the earlier violent conflict, which had dispersed by the time the new president arrived.

Earlier, protesters opposed to Pena Nieto and the return of his Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, had clashed with tear gas-wielding police.

Protests went on all day in various locations and the Red Cross said at least 76 people were treated for injuries, including 29 who hospitalized.

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Leftist congress members inside the chamber gave protest speeches and hung banners, including a giant one reading, “Imposition consummated. Mexico mourns.”

The PRI ruled for 71 years with what many considered to be an iron fist, using a mix of populist handouts, graft and rigged elections.

Pena Nieto had taken over at midnight in a symbolic ceremony after campaigning as the new face of the PRI, repentant and reconstructed after being voted out of the presidency in 2000.

Before his public swearing in later in the morning, hundreds banged on the tall steel security barriers around Congress, threw rocks, bottle rockets and firecrackers at police and yelled “Mexico without PRI!”

Police responded by spraying tear gas from a truck and used fire extinguishers on flames from Molotov cocktails. One group of protesters rammed and dented the barrier with a large garbage-style truck before being driven off by police water cannons.

“We’re against the oppression, the imposition of a person,” said Alejandro, 25, a student and protester who didn’t want to give his last name for fear of reprisals.

“He gave groceries, money and a lot more so people would vote for him,” the student said, referring to allegations that the PRI gave voters gifts to encourage them to cast their ballots for Pena Nieto.

Despite the protests, the swearing-in atmosphere at Congress was far less chaotic than six years ago, when a Calderon security unit literally had to muscle him past blockades and protesters to get him into Congress so he could take the oath of office after a razor-thin, disputed victory over a leftist candidate.

After Saturday’s oath-taking, Pena Nieto headed to deliver an inaugural speech at the historic National Palace in the city’s downtown.

The new president also planned a luncheon for invited guests, including U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden, Prince Felipe of Spain and the presidents from Colombia, Peru, Honduras and Nicaragua, among other Latin American countries.

Pena Nieto has promised to govern democratically with transparency. But his first moves even before the inauguration showed a solid link to the past. In announcing his cabinet on Friday, he turned to the old guard as well as new technocrats to run his administration.

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